Trends aren't as powerful as they used to be on the big screen. Since the superhero boom in the late 2000s and early 2010s, the blockbuster tidal wave weakened every other craze. Elevated horror is in, the John Wick knock-off movement remains notable, and brand biopics like AIr and Blackberry are having a moment. This is partially due to the slow death of mid-budget movies. Near Dark comes from an era when all a director had to do to get their film made was throw vampires into it.
Kathryn Bigelow is best known today for her war thrillers. The Hurt Locker is her most celebrated film, a masterful exploration of the Iraq War and its effects on soldiers and professionals overseas. She followed with Zero Dark Thirty, dramatizing the hunt for Osama bin Laden in gripping detail. Her latest outing was 2017's Detroit, which brought her back in collaboration with Hurt Locker writer Mark Boal. No fan of her recent outings would guess her solo debut.
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What is Near Dark about?
Near Dark follows Caleb Colton, a young man from a small town. He encounters a gorgeous drifter, Mae, who entertains him for the evening. Just before sunrise, Mae bites his neck and disappears. The sun sears his skin as Mae returns with an RV full of vampires to induct him into the band. Caleb meets Mae's friends Severen, an unhinged murderer, and Jessie Hooker, their charming leader. They travel the United States as a nomadic hunting party, killing humans for food and avoiding the authorities by staying mobile. Severen threatens Caleb's life, but Jessie agrees to give the kid a chance. He'll live with his fellow vampires for a week. He'll get to stick around if he learns to hunt and bond with the group. If he fails, he's on his own.
Caleb ingratiates himself to the vampires by putting his body on the line. Jessie and the others kill the patrons of a local bar. Caleb refuses to kill, letting a survivor escape and prompting the police to raid their hotel room. To make up for his mistake, Caleb braves daylight to distract the cops so that the vampires can escape. Jessie and Severen warm to Caleb, chatting about their long lives and starting to bond. Caleb's family goes looking for him, stumbling upon the vampires. When his sister, Sarah, stumbles into danger, his dad kicks down the door with a gun, and Caleb is forced to choose between his fellow bloodsuckers and the family who raised him. It's a moody exploration of the outsiders with a Western aesthetic and a thrilling third act.
What is Near Dark's Rotten Tomatoes score?
Near Dark holds an 83% positive score on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics liked the film when it was released, but it wasn't a hit with audiences. Near Dark is a cult classic today. It dropped into a crowded market. Kathryn Bigelow set out with an idea for a neo-Western film but couldn't find a producer willing to fund it. Their solution came from hits like Fright Night, Once Bitten, and Vamp in the previous two years. Adding vampires to their Western premise drew the attention of the rapidly declining De Laurentiis Entertainment Group or DEG. DEG produced several flops, many of which would be considered underrated classics. The Transformers: The Movie and Manhunter were excellent films that lost DEG millions. DEG was $16.5 million in debt by the time Near Dark hit the big screen. DEG was defunct two years later, and its IP was split among various other studios. It's hard to see an experimental producer go under, but at least they gave the world many classics.
How does Near Dark end?
Caleb runs away with his family. He takes a blood transfusion that turns him into a human again. The vampires hunt him down to steal his sister after one of them declares his desire to turn her. Mae distracts Caleb while the others kidnap Sarah. Caleb finds out and gives chase on horseback. Severen attacks, but Caleb steals a semi-truck and runs him over. Severen survives and claws at Caleb through the windshield. Caleb crashes the truck and disembarks while it explodes, killing Severen. Jessie and his girlfriend seek vengeance, but the sun forces them to retreat. Mae steals Sarah back from Jessie, ruining the sun protection in his car. Jessie tries to run Caleb over as he burns, but he crashes, and the car explodes. Caleb saves Mae from the sun and gets her a transfusion, making her human. They embrace as the film closes.
Near Dark isn't a perfect film. Its genres don't always blend perfectly, and its tone can be a little moody. The performances are excellent across the board, especially Lance Henriksen as Jessie. Vampire fans will love Near Dark. It may never be as iconic as The Lost Boys, but it brings unique virtues to the genre. Near Dark has been in the dark for too long.